Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-05-07
TEMPERANCE AND LABGR.
The Intimate Relation Between the Tw
and Some Facts Considered.

The Intimate Relation Between the Two
and Some Facts Considered.
[Chicago Tribune.1
One of the most valuable contributions
TO the discussion of the great question of
the day in America is an article under the
above caption in the current number of the
Catholic World. The author. the Rev. Dr.
Conaty OF Worcester, Mass, is one Of the
| ablest men of his communion in America,
and enjoys wide popularity on account of
his connection with the Irish Land League
movement and his efforts to promote The
Parnell tribute fund, of which he was the
American treasurer two years ago. DR..
Conaty does not discuss the subject from
sectarian point of view. He deals with it
as en- economist. He tersely states the
close relations existing between labor and
capital by saying: IF labor is the soul,
capital is the body of commercial life"
The capitalist seeks fair profit for his in
vestment, and, generally speaking, is con-
tent with such fair profit unless he is allied
with monopoly. The workingman seeks
a reasonable share in the profits he creates.
He organizes with his fellows for that pur-
pose. DR.. Conaty holds that the working
man is both capitalist and an Garner, his
capital being his health, energy, industry
and skill. lntemperance constantly i'm
pairs this capital and lessons its earning
power. If man looses his health through
indulgence in strong drink, DR.. Conaty
says he is bankrupt. Health is his source
of strength and happiness, and, humanity
speaking, almost his only one. The inter
ests of home, family and society press upon
him so closely that he must protect his
labor by protecting the soundness of his
body The workingman whose
habits are not temperate is wasting his
capital, is squandering every element of
value that he can contribute to any enter
prise SO as to secure remuneratiye share
OF profits" The Incorporate mans labor
is worthless, or nearly so. Intemperance.
therefore, is the great enemy of labor, as il
wastes the producing power, and it also en-
feebles those organizations of working'nen
that try to exact justice from capital, plus
monopoly.
Even moderate drinking hurts labor, in
asmuch as it not only depreciates the capital
but also wastes the earnings thereof. 1t is
an underestimate to say that the moderate
drinker spends one months wages every
year on strong liquor. Suppose it costs
fifteen cents per day. That would pay the
interest on mortgage of 81 900; it would
purchase many an article of household fur
niture; it would bring into tie home MANY
comforts now unknown it would at least
pay many a bill which cannot now be met.
Add to this what is spent in a protracted
spree, the time lost to work and the wages
unearned. the sickness often resulting, and
it is safe to say that intemperance robs la
Dor of more than enough to give decent
home to every workingman.n
If the capitalists who employ working
men were to announce reduction of if
teen cents per day in wages the working
men would strike, and would issue a boy
colt AGAINST the capitaliSt Nopoarp;pr
this phase OF the question DR.. Conaty
asks Then why not protest against the
blood-tax which intemperance collects
Why calmly submit TO this reduction of
your small wages? Why not strike against
this great enemy of labor and boycott
rum? 1t is like grinding capitalist; it
brushes mans life, picks his pockets and
uses his hard earnings as bludgeon to
destroy him. Cry out against the corpora
tons that poorly pay your labor, unite
against monopolists who seek to get the
most possible work for the least possible
pay; but cry also for protection against
this master OF Intemperance. who, whip in
hand, lashes worse than ever overseer tort
ured slave"
But as the reverend gentleman points
out, so far from the workingmen boycott
ting the rum power they are its steadiest
supporters. 1t is Notifying. he says, to
see labor protecting and defending the
liquor traffic in political life
Capital is called selfish because it seeks
to enrich itself, but in enriching itself il
helps to enrich Others But for pure. un-
adulterated selfishness commend me to the
saloon where men grow rich by impover-
ishing their friends and succeed by tramp.
ling others under foot"
Those who are thus enriched by the
traffic become political magnates who
dictate public policy. make and unmake
public men and public laws, and name the
candidates freernen must vote for" And
the nominees of those liquor men never.
once they get into Office, vote for any meas
ure to ameliorate the lot of the working
men. The representatives of the LIQUOR
men in the State Legislature elected by the
votes of the workingmen may be absent
every day except when it is question of
Hquor-law amendments, and then they
must vote against any and every restriction
or be exposed to political decapitation
and 1t is the same whether it be question
OF high license in New York or an anti
tenement liquor bill in Massachusetts"
DIR. Conaty has done well to call atten-
ton to those pregnant facts. His article
should be widely distributed among work
ingmen, especially among those of his own
communion, though it will appeal, as the
production of a Catholic priest, more di-
rectly to Catholic than to Catholic
workingmen. IfAmerican capitalists would
but follow the good example of their Brit
lsh brethren in such matters, articles of
this kind would be scattered by the million
among the manufacturing and other in
custrIal establishments OF the land.